Saracens' versatile back Owen Farrell has been shortlisted for the Land Rover discovery of the season award.

The six-man shortlist, where the winner will be unveiled at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards, consists of players aged 21 or under on the day of the Premiership final. Farrell has had a hugely impressive season where he has played a key role for both club and country.

He is joined on the list by Wasps duo Joe Launchbury and Christian Wade. Wade is currently second on the try-scoring list for this season's Premiership with eight scores while Launchbury has turned in a series of important performances for the beleaguered Premiership side and was rewarded with a call up to the England squad during the 2012 Six Nations.

Other names on the shortlist include Worcester Warriors flanker Matt Kvesic, London Irish's Jonathan Joseph and Harlequins back-row Luke Wallace.

The list was chosen by a panel which included World Cup winner Josh Lewsey and he claims that the variety within the shortlist bodes well for the future of the English game.
"England's new head coach Stuart Lancaster has instilled the correct culture for which they know that if they perform both on and importantly off the field, they will get their chance," Lewsey said. "All six of these young men epitomise that value set.

"The shortlist gives us a huge range of players from gun dogs like Matt Kvesic, nuggety players like Luke Wallace and the obvious mental fortitude of a guy like Owen Farrell. London Irish's Jonathan Joseph has also impressed me and of course - although it wasn't all my choice - I was delighted to see two players from London Wasps make the shortlist, after performing as they have, in adversity."